Editing Sacred Band (section)

==The Test: Pacification of the Merican Hives==

Although the Emperor's Thunder Warriors and genehanced regiments would carry the lion's share of the fighting throughout the Unification Wars, giving the Space Marines some combat experience before dispatching them to the stars was seen as essential.  Their first opportunity was in the subjugation of Merica, an old, wealthy, and thoroughly decadent nation to the east of the Emperor's dominions.

Hektor's mission was not to conquer Merica, but to prove his soldiers' worth.  The Thunder Warriors were stronger and savage, the genehanced troopers could be produced in far greater numbers.  For all that the Emperor was confident in His latest creations, He assumed nothing and made it clear to the Sacred Band that they would not be sheltered on the campaign.

===Order of Battle===

'''Headquarters and reserves'''

*Commander: [[Hektor Cincinnatus]]
*Attached Telepaths: Cassandor Horatius, Phirun Soun
*[[Heralds of Hektor|First Squad]] (Tactical)
*[[Steel Marshals|Tenth Squad]] (Assault)
*[[Eyes of the Emperor|Nineteenth Squad]] (Support), Sergeant Kamal Kulkarni
*[REDACTED]

'''First Section'''

*Commander: Leonidas Manisicus
*[[Scale Bearers|Seventeenth Squad]] (Reconnaissance)
*[[Void Angels|Fifth Squad]] (Tactical), Sergeant Mamercus
*[[Crimson Eagles|Seventh Squad]] (Tactical)
*[[Eternal Zealots|Sixteenth Squad]] (Assault)
*[[Life Bringers|Twelfth Squad]] (Heavy Support)

'''Second Section'''

*Commander: Hephaestion Horatius
*[[Children of Astarot|Thirteenth Squad]] (Reconnaissance)
*[[The Entombed|Sixth Squad]] (Tactical)
*[[Silver Cataphracts|Fifteenth Squad]] (Tactical)
*[[Black Augurs|Fourteenth Squad]] (Assault)
*[[War Scribes|Second Squad]] (Heavy Support), Sergeant [[Orend Ymoro]]

'''Third Section'''

*Commander: Ajax Camillus
*[[Iron Rangers|Twentieth Squad]] (Reconnaissance), Sergeant Yon Mikneli
*[[Lions Rampant|Ninth Squad]] (Tactical)
*[[Thunder Kings|Eleventh Squad]] (Tactical)
*[[Sons of Fire|Fourth Squad]] (Assault)
*[[Stone Men|Eighteenth Squad]] (Heavy Support)

===Combat Performance===

As a whole, the Sacred Band performed well.  Casualties due to enemy action were low, although the Fifth Squad was tragically slain by berserk Thunder Warriors in the [[San Angelus Incident]].